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PODCAST

Cult or Just Weird

Cult Or Just Weird

Join Chris & Kayla on their journeys of humor, discovery, and the absurd as they try to answer the question... is it a cult, or just weird?

society & culture

All Episodes

01:29:05

S4E15 - The Basics (Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/10/18

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- In my estimation, the only thing that is more to be guarded against than bad taste is good taste. - Russell Lynes Chris & Kayla partake of an ancient (relatively speaking) autumnal ritual. --- *Search Categories* Business; Internet Culture; Common interest/Fandom --- *Topic Spoiler* Pumpkin Spice Fandom --- *Further Reading* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin_pie_spice

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01:21:41

S4E14 - The Bean Counters (Pythagoreanism)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/10/04

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- All is Number. Chris helps Kayla square her understanding of a well known but little understood historical character. --- *Search Categories* New Religious Movement; Science/Pseudoscience; Anthropological --- *Topic Spoiler* Pythagoreanism --- *Further Reading* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoreanism https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pythagoras/

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01:51:34

S4E13 - The Partners (Starbucks Workers Unions)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/09/20

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible." -Howard Schultz Grab your favorite iced, sugary, coffee-adjacent beverage, because Kayla and Chris have an episode brewing, featuring a conversation with some partners who are helping their corporate overlords walk the walk. --- *Search Categories* Business --- *Topic Spoiler* Starbucks Workers Unions ---

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01:34:44

S4E12 - The Dirt (Black Oxygen Organics takedown)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/09/06

"Even the largest avalanche is triggered by small things." - Vernor Vinge Kayla and Chris tell another side of the classic MLM story - the downfall. And we've got a special interview here to give us all the dirt. --- *Search Categories* MLM; Internet culture; Business; Science/Pseudoscience; Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* Black Oxygen Organics aka BOO --- *Further Reading* https://mombie-antimlm.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MLMombie/ https://www.instagram.com/mlmombie/?hl=en

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01:24:16

S4E11 - The Antidote (suicidality & Teal Swan)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/08/23

“Human connection is the suicide killer." Chris and Kayla revisit a former topic that's reared its head in mainstream culture again to talk about why this person continues to amass power...and what the other options are. --- *Search Categories* New Age; Internet culture --- *Topic Spoiler* Teal Swan and suicidality --- *Further Reading* Emmengard suicide scale The North Wind & the Sun parable David Foster Wallace quote 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline The Trevor Project Trans Lifeline The Deep End

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23:16

S4E10 - I Didn't Know it Was Wrong[tm]! (how abusers...

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/08/09

Kayla and Chris are on vacation this week! But we still want to bring you some sweet sweet content, so here is a bonus episode from the CoJW patreon last season, where we discuss how weird it is that abusers from disparate communities all use the same refrain when facing accountability: "I didn't know it was wrong!" --- *Search Categories* Destructive --- *Topic Spoiler* S3E19 Patreon Bonus episode --- *Patreon Credits* Michaela Evans, Heather Aunspach, Alyssa Ottum, David Whiteside, Jade A, amy

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01:28:31

S4E9 - The Vibes (Empty Spaces)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/07/26

“Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” - Jean Luc Godard Kayla and Chris fall down the dollhole into an online world of unstable meaning and multilayered storytelling. --- *Search Categories* Internet culture; Common interest/Fandom --- *Topic Spoiler* Empty Spaces --- *Further Reading* https://litreactor.com/columns/the-art-of-microfiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_fiction An Empty Introduction from @maybeElse List of Empty Spaces writers on Twitter Map of Ways of

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01:38:18

S4E8 - The Magic Formula (Long Term Capital Management)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/07/12

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- “Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you.” - Larry Kersten Chris takes us back to the 90s... a decade of neon green baseball hats, Crystal Pepsi, Michael Jordan, Alanis Morrisette. And hedge fund disasters. --- *Search Categories* Business; Destructive --- *Topic Spoiler* Long Term Capital Management --- *Further Reading*

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50:40

S4E7 - The Abortion Conversation

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/06/28

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- “Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair.” - Mariame Kaba With the tragic June 24th reversal of Roe v Wade, Chris & Kayla eschew the usual format and lean hard into talking about helpers. --- *Search Categories* Destructive --- *Topic Spoiler* Abortion Justice & Access --- *Further Reading* For those seeking abortion access (PLEASE access these while using a VPN): Digital security info AbortionPillInfo.org

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57:35

S4E6 - The Scheme (B&B Worm Farm Ponzi)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/06/14

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- "The worm is not to be trusted" - William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra Chris & Kayla "dig in" to an unlikely but prolific Ponzi scheme in this week's episode. --- *Search Categories* Business; MLM --- *Topic Spoiler* B&B Worm Farm Ponzi scheme --- *Further Reading* https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/06/30/crawling-with-trouble

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01:44:55

S4E5 - The Banking Dynasty (The Rothschild Family)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/05/31

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- "We use Halloween to scare the kids and bankers to scare the adults." - Anthony T. Hincks Chris and Kayla revisit a past guest to explore a new topic - and take a look at our own biases. Special thanks to returning friend of the show, Mike Rothschild! @rothschildmd on twitter, The Storm is Upon Us on Amazon Episode content warning: Antisemitism --- *Search Categories* Conspiracy Theory; Business; Anthropological;

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01:05:32

S4E4 - The Corporate Culture (cultlike corporate...

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/05/17

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- We here at Cult or Just Weird like to call ourselves a family. Kayla & Chris deep dive into a recent article outlining the cult-like criteria present in an area of life where most of us toil away. --- *Search Categories* Business --- *Topic Spoiler* "Company or Cult?" article from The Economist --- *Further Reading* https://www.economist.com/business/2022/03/05/company-or-cult

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01:15:46

S4E3 - The Toolbox (self care strategies from past...

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/05/03

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. -Jack Kornfield Chris & Kayla tap into their trust network- all the previous guests of the show- to help them build a toolbox of self care strategies. --- *Search Categories* Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* Self care ideas from COJW guests --- *Further Reading* - Move your body! - Chores can be good! Brush your teeth! - Coping skills are ok, they

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01:15:09

S4E2 - The Tea (Celestial Seasonings & Urantia)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/04/19

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- "A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter. -Mary Lou Heiss" You might want to put that cup of tea down while Kayla spills some of her own tea about a certain producer of such products. Warning: Eugenics :( --- *Search Categories* New Age; Business; Destructive; Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* Celestial Seasonings Tea Company & Urantia --- *Further Reading*

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01:30:39

S4E1 - The Informed Public (Mike Caulfield interview...

Cult or Just Weird ·

2022/04/05

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- Information is abundant. Your attention is priceless. Chris & Kayla kick off S4 of Cult or Just Weird by finding a pretty darn good helper, who has some advice all of us stand to benefit from. --- *Search Categories* Anthropological; Internet culture; Conspiracy Theory --- *Topic Spoiler* Interview w/ Mike Caulfield of UW's Center for an Informed Public --- *Further Reading* https://www.cip.uw.edu/

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32:16

S3E20 Bonus Patreon Episode (The Rise and Fall of...

Cult or Just Weird ·

2021/12/29

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- Chris & Kayla interview Stephanie McNeal, Senior Buzzfeed culture reporter, and author of the article on LuLaRoe: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/lularoe-millennial-women-entrepreneurship-lawsuits Rise & Fall of LuLaRoe Discovery+ documentary featuring Ms McNeal: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16125656/ *** This episode was originally published to Cult or Just Weird patrons

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01:13:46

S3E20 - The Journey (past, present, and future of COJW)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2021/12/28

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- Every step is on the path. (Lao Tzu) Chris & Kayla reflect on their journey producing three seasons of Cult or Just Weird, and discuss what lies in store for the future. Happy Holidays & may your 2022 bring peace and happiness. --- *Search Categories* Common Interest/Fandom --- *Topic Spoiler* CoJW's journey & learnings --- *Further Reading* www.cultorjustweird.com --- *Patreon Credits* Michaela Evans, Heather

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01:52:46

S3E19 - The Old New Religious Movement (The Amish)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2021/12/14

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- The tree of spiritual munificence must be refreshed from time to time. Chris gets to learn all about the Amish from someone whose story has been featured on a previous episode. (thanks to Lizzie Hershberger, co-author of Behind Blue Curtains, for her time & insights!) --- *Search Categories* Anthropological; Destructive --- *Topic Spoiler* Amish (current day) & interview with Lizzie Hershberger --- *Further Reading*

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01:30:38

S3E18 - The Radical Reformers (history of Anabaptism)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2021/11/30

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- "If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." -Loren Eiseley Chris revisits a previous topic but widens the scope by deep diving into the (sometimes violent) religious shards of context. --- *Search Categories* New Religious Movement; Anthropological --- *Topic Spoiler* Amish (Anabaptist origins) --- *Further Reading* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish

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01:25:46

S3E17 - The Contest (No Nut November)

Cult or Just Weird ·

2021/11/16

Wanna chat about the episode? Or just hang out? Come join us on discord! --- Every November comes with a kaleidoscope of changing leaves, the aroma of pumpkin spice, and doesn't come with other things. Kayla goes hard on a nutty topic and comes up with some deep insights and penetrating analysis. --- *Search Categories* Internet Culture; Common Interest/Fandom; Alt Medicine/Wellness --- *Topic Spoiler* No Nut November (and NoFap) --- *Further Reading*

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117 results

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